Book 2-Alex Bishop in Follow That Mystery

Alex Bishop in Follow That Mystery

                                                                                       Chapter 20

                                                                                 Trickery is a Foot

     The next morning Lyn and her overnight guests Amy and Nikki, came out into the sunny kitchen about eight o'clock in the morning ready for some breakfast.  Lyn's mother Janeen was there preparing the morning meal.  Max, Lyn's father had gotten up at six a.m. to go play a round of golf, so he wasn't home.  He had invited Alex, Lee and Fletch along but they said the three of them had other plans.  Alex's friends had spent the night also, but they were still in bed having had a late night.

     Janeen put bacon, eggs and toast on the table for the girls.  She then collected the dirty laundry from various rooms in the house and hustled off to put them in the washer.  Lyn's eyes followed her mother until she disappeared around the hallway corner.  "I don't think we should make any moves to go to Miss Rigby's house, until we find out what Alex is planning for the day," Lyn told her friends.  Amy and Nikki's mouths were both full so both of them just nodded in agreement.

     Just then Alex, Fletch and Lee came dragging into the kitchen.  "Morning Linny, Amy, Nikki," Alex said yawning widely.  "Morning Alex!" Lyn and the other two girls chimed.  "Hi Kiddos," Lee said with an absent wave of his hand.  Fletch just nodded in the girls' direction while scratching his head.  The boys slowly trudged to the cupboard to retrieve plates and then began to fill them with food from the stove top.

     "What have you three got planned for the day?"  Alex asked Lyn, Nikki and Amy while taking his seat.  "Nothing really," Lyn said innocently.  Alex raised a brow at her in suspicion.  Then he got an idea.  "How would you girls like to go miniature golfing with Lee, Fletch and I today? You can ask Michael and Kent along too.  I'll pay for it all of course," her brother said with his charming crooked smile in place.

     Amy flashed Lyn a nervous look, but Lyn looked at Alex and smiled, "We'd like that, wouldn't we girls?" she asked them; conveying with a look, that they should agree wholeheartedly.  "Sure," Amy said with a big smile of her own.  Alex looked stunned that the girls had said "Yes."  Fletch and Lee cast Alex "What are you doing" looks while Alex told the girls to eat up, call their guy friends and then they all would be on their way.

     The boys dug into their food while the girls finished up and ran off to get dressed.  "What was that all about?"  Lee asked.  Alex grinned.  We all made a pledge to keep an eye on Lyn and her friends right?"  "Right," Fletch agreed whilst filling his face with food.  "So, if they spend the day with us, they won't be able to make any dangerous plans."

     "Because.... regardless of the warning our Dad gave Lyn about the dangers of going to the Rigby house, I know my sister.  And I know his warning won't stop her.  "So, you're saying she's like her big brother,"  Lee said with a laugh.  "Okay.  Never mind that."  Fletch joined Lee in the laughter this time.  After the boys finished, they too went to get dressed for the day.

     Alex decided to call Dawn and Glenna and ask them if they wanted to go golfing too.  And he also explained his thinking about spending the morning with the younger kids.  Both girls said they would be there in about fifteen minutes.  After Lyn was dressed and ready to go, she called Michael and Kent and ask them to go too, and telling them she wanted to lure Alex, Lee and Fletch into a false sense of security.

     "I'm sorry I didn't clue you guys in before I mentioned the golf thing to the girls," Alex said, pulling on his jeans, "but it just came to me suddenly."  "That's okay.  We got it....eventually." Lee told him.  "My van will take us all over there comfortably," Fletch said.  Alex grinned and nodded at him, as if his plan for the morning to keep the kids out of trouble was coming together nicely.

     Lyn and her group had an enjoyable time at the golf course and never once attempted to get off on their own, and have a private conversation.  Alex treated everyone to "eats" and ice cream after at a local fast food restaurant.  It was around noon when Fletch pulled into the Bishop's driveway.  Dawn and Glenna bid the others goodbye saying they had plans for shopping in the afternoon.

     "Sorry Bud," Lee said quickly when Lyn and her friends had gone into the house, "But Fletch and I are going with the girls.  We're picking up Chet and Julie and making a day of it."  "Shopping?"  Alex questioned with his characteristic brow raised.  "Well, after the shopping we'll probably take in a movie."  "Okay.  Well, thanks for going," Alex said, waving at them as Fletch pulled away from the curb.  So now, it would be just Alex keeping a eye on his sister and her friends.  Alex made a face knowing that he was the lone detective today.

     He ran up the front steps and into the house.  His father Max greeted him in the small foyer while he put his golf clubs in the closet.  "Hi Dad," Alex said, slouching down on the sofa.  A lack of sleep the night before and then walking the miniature golf course all morning had taken it's toll, and he was very tired all of a sudden.

     "Hey Dad," Lyn called from the living room floor where she, Amy, Nikki, Michael and Kent were setting up the monopoly board.  Alex was relieved to see it.  He thought that might keep them busy for quite a while.  He knew his sister was very competitive and her monopoly games had been known to go on for hours.  He sighed in contentment as he nursed those thoughts.

     "What did you all do with your time this morning?"  Max asked no one in particular as he sat in his favorite easy chair, and chowed down on a "hero" sandwich that his wife had just handed him.  Before Alex could answer, Lyn did.  "We all went miniature golfing and Alex paid for it all.  It was fun," she said with a grin.

     "Yeah it was," Kent said, while passing play money out to each player.  Max looked over at Alex and said, "That was very nice of you son."  Alex just shrugged, as if it was no big deal to have done it.  "Hey Alex!" his mother called, "Phone!"  The Bishops had a landline.  If fact there was a house phone in every room.  Janeen refused to give up some old things just to replace them with new ones, like cell phones.

     "What does she want?"  Alex asked with a frown.  "I don't know.  She just said for you to call her back," Janeen told him, going back to her dirty dishes.  "Thanks.  I'll call her," Alex said, getting up slowly and trudging off to his room, his cell phone in hand.  "I wonder why Anna just didn't call my cell," he mumbled to himself.

     "Did Alex seem to have a good time this morning?"  Max ask Lyn.  "I think so,"  Lyn said.  "He's probably just tired.  He, Lee and Fletch were up late last night."  Max chuckled.  "Yeah, I guess that would make one grouchy," he said, picking up his newspaper and then giving Alex's door a quizzical look.

     Alex sat on his bed and rang up Anna.  "Hey Alex!  Where have you been all morning?" she asked him.  "Oh.  I took Lyn and her friends miniature golfing."  "You're brave,"  Anna said giggling.  "They seemed to have had a good time," Alex said with a big yawn.  "You don't sound too cheerful," she told him. "What's wrong?"

     "Nothing.  Just really tired.  I didn't get much sleep last night."  "I'm sorry.  Well, I called because I rented this movie.  It's supposed to be pretty good, and I wanted to know whether you would come over and watch it with me."  "How about you come here.  Would that be alright?"  Alex asked hopefully.

     Anna was a little surprised at Alex's answer, but said, "Sure Alex.  How about seven o'clock?"  "That would be great," he said, trying to put some excitement into his voice.  "Maybe you should get a nap in before the movie," Anna said laughing.  "Maybe I will.  I'll see you at seven.  Bye," Alex said, ringing off.

     He sat on his bed for a few minutes thinking of his sister and the days events which had rendered him so exhausted.  Then he shook his head and grinned.  "Kids," Alex muttered as he got up and walked out his door, heading to the living room to do his promised duty and keep his eye on Lyn and her friends.  "The things a big brother has to do,"  Alex mumbled to himself.

                                                                           End of Chapter 20